Shaftesbury Acquires New Web Show

CANNES: Shaftesbury has picked up a web series, Long Story, Short, which was created and written by the actress Katie Boland (The Master), who also stars.

The series was co-created, directed and produced by Gail Harvey (Murdoch Mysteries). It follows a 21-year-old woman (Boland) and her two best friends as they deal with messy relationships, bad dates and the ups and downs of the road to adulthood. Shaftesbury is also offering the 11×5-minute web series as a package of two half-hour episodes.

"Katie captures the zeitgeist of her generation in this funny, honest and moving series,” said Christina Jennings, the chairman and CEO of Shaftesbury. “Beautifully directed by Gail, Long Story, Short expresses the longing and hope of young adults who are struggling to find their place in the world.”

"This is a web series that targets its audience perfectly,” noted Andra Sheffer, executive director of the Independent Production Fund, which funded the series. “Young adults are online and immersing themselves in stories that reflect their lives, loves and friendships, and Long Story, Short delivers."

“Long Story, Short is based entirely on my life,” added Boland. “I was inspired by the giant feelings of youth; the confusion, the vulnerability, the elation and most of all, the closeness you feel to your friends. I hope in watching the series the audience can see versions of themselves, their relationships and can relate to the honesty with which the story was told.”